Jones, John Paul, Continental naval officer

Autograph letter signed ("Jn P Jones"), 1 page (15 1/4 x 9 5/8 in.; 387 x 244 mm) on a sheet of laid paper (watermarked lvg | posthorn), Portsmouth, 22 July 1777, to John Brown, Secretary of the Congressional Marine Committee, at Philadelphia, autograph address panel and reception docket on verso; a few pinholes and discreet reinforcement at folds. Housed in a blue moiré silk portfolio.

Laird U. Park, Jr. (Sotheby's, 29 November 2000, lot 185)

cf. Sawtelle, John Paul Jones and the Ranger (1994)

Autograph letter signed ("Jn P Jones"), 1 page (15 1/4 x 9 5/8 in.; 387 x 244 mm) on a sheet of laid paper (watermarked lvg | posthorn), Portsmouth, 22 July 1777, to John Brown, Secretary of the Congressional Marine Committee, at Philadelphia, autograph address panel and reception docket on verso; a few pinholes and discreet reinforcement at folds. Housed in a blue moiré silk portfolio.
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Fititng out the sloop Ranger. In mid-June 1777, John Paul Jones was ordered by the Marine Committee, Continental Congress, to proceed to Portsmouth and take command of the newly built ship of war Ranger. Jones was instructed to "get the Ranger equipped, Officered and Manned as well and as soon as possible, and ... then proceed on a Cruize against the enemies of the these United States conforming to the Orders and regulations of Congress made for the government of their Navy, and in conformity thereto Take, Sink, Burn or destroy all such of the enemies Ships, Vessels, goods and effects as you may be able" (Letters of Delegates, ed. Smith, 7:216–17). Although the Ranger was a lesser command than he had hoped for, Jones worked tirelessly to prepare the 18-gun sloop for the sea. In this apparently unpublished letter, Jones writes to the Secretary of the Marine Committee about several matters, including prize monies and books he required for study.

"Inclos'd I send you two open letters for your perusal which I request you to deliver. Mr. Nesbitt will put Continental Bills into your hands in lieu of the Pennsylvania Money, inclos'd in his Letter, and as this must reach you before, the return of the Express, with the French mail, who went last Week from hence, you will much Oblige me by sending by that Opportunity, a compleat Journal of Congress, from the beginning, with a new modeled Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Navy, which I conclude must be finished before this time, as I wish to Embrace every leisure half hour in improving in French, I should be exceedingly glad if the Gentlemen, on the Express, would take charge of Perrine's French Grammar, and Exercise, with a Table of Verbs, which may be had from Mr. Francis Daymon in Markett Street, or if you direct them for Colo. [John] Langdon, the Express must receive them. Inclos'd you have a Bill which I found necessary to publish here, with the approbation of Colo. [William] Whipple, I hope it will not be condemned by the Gentlemen of the Honble. Committee. I am ashamed at having so long neglected to write to Mr. [Robert] Morris, I have several things to say but must defer it till next Post, else the Mail will be shut."

In a postscript, Captain Jones directs the dispersal of a portion of one of the sixteen prizes he captured aboard Providence, a 12-gun sloop that had been his previous command: "Mr. [John Maxwell] Nesbitt will pay into your hands the Amount of Prize Money due to my Carpinter in the Providence from the Sea Nymph—and return the letter of attorney as he is entitled to share in other prizes.—I will hope for the pleasure of hearing from you."

On her maiden voyage, the Ranger  carried news of Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga to Benjamin Franklin in Paris. Jones's daring raids with the Ranger alongs the coasts of England and Scotland greatly enhanced his reputation and led to his command, not quite two years later, of the Bonhomme Richard, a frigate carrying 42 guns. A significant letter and an imposing physical artifact.